IV

IV

Sunshine.

The sun shone on the white walls, bouncing off the silver cross hanging in the window.

The sun was shining in the quiet room, where noise was just outside but not in the room, like someone had wrapped it in cotton to keep it, and me, safe, just for now.

I blinked and watched the sunshine. I remembered that it was dark. I'd been scared I'd never see sunshine again.

I heard a breath, close by. A safe sound. I turned my head.

The sun was shining on Richard, his copper hair glowing like a halo. I thought I'd never see him again.

His eyes flickered open and he froze.

"The sun rose," I whispered in a voice harsh from disuse.

"Yeah, it did." Richard slipped out of his chair and knelt by the bed.

I looked back at the window. "Edward?"

"Alive. Fine."

Silence for a long time. "Jean-Claude? Nathaniel?"

"Everyone's fine."

Another silence. "And me?"

Richard picked up my hand as the first tear slid down my cheek. "You are going to be just fine."

Another tear. "I thought it wasn't going to let me go."

Richard kissed my hand. "In the end, it couldn't touch you."

-fin